Keeping the home fires burning

05.45: Across the silhouetted fields and trees to the east, an angry streak of colour is splitting the earth from the sky. Sunrise is 45 minutes away and the houses in this part of Leicestershire show only the darkness of continuing slumber. But in one corner of Hinckley, it’s simply the next part of a 24/7 day, as one shift prepares to clock off and another to clock on. The National Grid’s Distribution Network Control Centre – or DNCC, as it’s more commonly known – is unobtrusively located behind heavy, secure doors on a big, bustling site, beyond a foyer where notices proclaim: ‘Safety is everyone’s responsibility’. Jim Eldridge is a National Grid veteran; he’s been with the company for 29 years and with DNCC for 11 of those. The UNISON rep is part of the team that keeps the gas flowing across five networks in the UK – not only ensuring that there’s enough gas to fill the daily needs of those areas, but that the network remains safe for everyone. 06.45: Jim is preparing to take over the reins for the North West. He picks up detailed notes from the colleague who has just finished, and he’ll update these throughout his shift for the person who follows him. 07.00: It’s time to set up the array of six large screens that Jim will be watching over. They provide him with all sorts of data, including how much gas is in the pipes – or the Linepack, as the gas cognoscenti call it. The team ensures that, a little like a night storage heater, the pipes are f...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Magazine All in a day's work East Midlands Energy Source Type: news